I had personally thought it would be more of a "Market on Yates" type price range store.

This is a public service message for parents of daycare-age children in the Ladysmith, Vancouver area. The founder of the Kidz R Brite daycare, Cindy Desrochers, is a member of the predatory cult of the fake Qanon "queen of Canada", Romana Didulo. This is a dangerous cult that spews domestic terroristic threats and also grifts "donations" from their mostly low-income elderly followers. The cult exhorts their followers to "shoot two bullets in the head" for any healthcare worker who administers vaccines to children. Many followers have actually lost their homes after believing Didulo's lies that mortgage payments are "unlawful" in her imaginary "Kingdom of Canada". They are coerced to send their money to Didulo instead. Yes, this is real. CTV's W5 did a expose of the cult leader. The death threats are at the 3:00 minute mark of their documentary video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aSJs3cPgnxw

"Those who have tried to sell their units have said there’s a glut on the market, making sales difficult. They said many owners only have one or two units and rely on the properties as retirement investments and for income."

And how easily these investors forget that there is something known as long term rentals.

News stories for YEARS have covered the doctor shortage. We talk of hospitals with not enough beds, when we really mean not enough staff to care for the patients.

On the news the last couple of evenings there have been stories of the ambulance service raising the red flag on the lack of ambulances, or more accurately the lack of staff to properly service BC Communities.

I know Covid was a gut punch to the healthcare budget, but these red flags are flapping because people are dying.

I live in Victoria. Saanich to be specific. My partner died of a stroke in 2022. At first 911 put me on hold, then the ambulance service put me on hold. It was two hours from the first call to the emergency room. The surgeons successfully removed the clot, but the damage was done and he died three days later. One hour could have made all the difference. I spent much of that golden hour on hold.

By the way, my partner’s former GP still lives in Victoria but during Covid realised he could make more money by working fewer hours and providing virtual healthcare to US patients. If this doctor abandoned the Canadian system while maintaining residence here, I dare say he’s not the only one.

We need to produce more doctors and nurses and we need to properly fund 911 and the ambulance service. There are many thoughtful solutions have been discussed, yet implementation has been spotty and inconsistent.

I like the idea of offering medical students a reduction in medical school costs tied to years of service to an underserved community. Increase the ratio for those willing to provide GP and RN services.

The problem with 911 and EMTs seems to be more budget-related and not restricted by medical school openings. I don’t believe in user fees as they are inherently unfair and go against the ideal of universal health care, but I would be willing to accept a new or increased tax.

Where can we find the money? The rapid rise of inflation is reminiscent of the 1970s and it's already hard to keep up with the cost of living. Where would you be willing to pay 1% or 2% more tax? Food, gas, property, income tax? What do you think of using so-called “sin tax” which is a tax only on gambling, alcohol and tobacco/nicotine (and sometimes junk or fast food)?

I'll forward constructive replies you may wish to share to Josie Osborne, BC Minister of Health.